Apart from the coloured clothing it looked almost like a Test match was going on when Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan operated his slow bowlers with two slip fielders and the men at the silly positions during the fourth one-dayer against Zimbabwe at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday.
The home skipper's aggressive field was because the spinners were surprisingly getting good purchase from the track to wrap up the Zimbabwean innings for 44 runs, a best bowling performance for the Tigers after they had dismissed Hong Kong for 105 runs in 2004 Asia Cup in Colombo, although there had a predications from all corner before the match that it would be a good batting track.
Bangladesh top order batsmen did also struggle a little bit to achieve the tiny target but it was ultimately an easy win, in a match which lasted only 36.4 overs, for the home side to confirm the series victory, their fourth consecutive series victory in this year, but it was not the Tigers series victory rather the talking point was the pitch after the match.
The behaviour of the track bamboozled everybody and reminded how risky it is to predict on a track.
The pitch offered plenty of turn and movement, mainly because of early moisture, but it could not only be blamed for the fifth lowest total as the poor shot selections were also reasons behind the debacle not only for Zimbabwe batsmen but also for the local batters. Things could have been much worse for the visitors, who holds the embarrassing lowest one-day total of 35 they made against Sri Lanka at Harare in 2004, had the home side fielders not floored three catches.
But both Bangladesh skipper Shakib and stand-in Zimbabwe captain Hamilton Masakadza had the same opinion that this kind of track was not ideal for one-day cricket.
“When we started playing, we thought it was a flat track but when our spinners came in it was doing a bit and they landed the ball in the right areas. If you look at the result then I guess it's not an ideal one-day track. For a one-day match you would want a pitch where 260-270 runs would be scored and teams would lose by 10-15 runs or win by three wickets. That's the ideal scenario,” said Shakib.
“We certainly did not expect it to turn so much and I am sure Zimbabwe also didn't either. There was sharp turn and the balls that went straight skidded. As all their top order batters were right-handers and our first three spinners were left-armers therefore we had a better chance of getting a result,” he added.
“It was a surprise for all of us to find that much turn. Even umpire Aleem Dar said that going by the look of the wicket it wasn't supposed to have so much spin. I think the early morning moisture had an impact especially with the covers taken of early. It certainly helped the ball grip,” continued the all-rounder.
But Shakib was happy with the outcome at the end.
“But as I have said earlier we have won the series and that's the most important thing. You have got to remember that we are playing at home so we should have home advantage. We know that it will not be that easy for our batsmen to adjust to seaming pitches and therefore wickets are prepared keeping in mind the strength of the home team. When we go to New Zealand we may have three or even four pacers in the playing eleven. It is totally dependent on the conditions. If there is a scope for taking home advantage who wouldn't take it?, “ he said defended the condition.
He also said that the mood was excellent after they dismissed a team for the lowest total against Bangladesh.
“It's a wonderful feeling to be able to bowl out a side for 44. It doesn't happen everyday. I also wanted a 10-wicket win which I think we haven't had before. Disappointed that it didn't happen. Maybe next time! The mood in the dressing room was unique,” he said adding that losing the toss was a blessing in disguise
Masakadza however blamed both the character of the surface and his batsmen's reckless batting.
" It looked like a good batting track but it was too slow for a one day wicket. We misread the wicket today, it was slower than we thought. We did give wickets away, which is something we have been doing throughout the series. It is really disappointing that we are 3-1 down after going one up in the series" said the Zimbabwean stand-in skipper adding that it was not an ideal track for 50-over match.
It was however a special moment for Nazmul Hossain who got the man of the match award despite the spinners dictating terms.
“It is quite understandable that we would have more spinners as that's our strength. I am always happy if I get results. It means the hard work has paid off. It is not fun bowling on flat wickets if you are a pace bowler but I that also makes me more responsible,” said Nazmul, the lone pacer in the match.
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